Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel qualified third fastest on Saturday, getting the better of young Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo who starts from sixth on the grid.

Two weeks after his controversial pole at the Monaco Grand Prix, Rosberg drove with flawless control to edge beyond his team-mate and nearest title rival by just 0.079 seconds.

The 28-year-old German secured his second successive pole, his third this year and the seventh of his career with a best lap time of one minute and 14.874 seconds.

It was his third pole performance this year and came at a track where Hamilton has always shone and previously claimed three poles. It was also the Mercedes team’s fourth front row lockout this year.

“I know it’s a track where Lewis is really strong,” said Rosberg.

“I’m very happy it worked out. It has been a fantastic day and through the weekend we have been progressing all the time and I’m in the best position for tomorrow so I am very happy.”

Asked how he achieved his success against Hamilton on one of the Briton’s favourite tracks, he added: “It’s just working at it all the time, looking at the data, working with engineers and trying to understand areas where I can do better. It’s just a process and I’m glad it’s worked out.”

Hamilton said: “Nico did a fantastic job so congratulations to him. It was not a particularly bad lap, it just wasn’t the greatest qualifying – sometimes you have a good qualifying, sometimes you have bad one.

“But it’s a great to get a one-two for the team and a fantastic performance. Let’s hope we can make history tomorrow.”

Germany’s Vettel bounced back from an inconsistent weekend to grab third place ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas and his Williams teammate Felipe Massa of Brazil.

“We’re fighting a very big gap, and it’s difficult to close it in one round,” Vettel said.